Re: Hi Everyone! And help me find a mint w113..

[scoot]

I am after a mint mint mint w113 in left hand drive, automatic, 280sl. Budget generous enough..

Welcome Eric.   Just for clarification...

1.  money is not much of an object
2.  location isn't an issue (for instance, a car in the States is fine)
3.  color?  Does anything else matter?   
4.  mint restored or mint original?

Have fun!
Scott

[Erics]

Hi Scott,

Money is always an issue! But just to say that i am aware as to where the market is. I don't mind paying for a really good car.

Based in London, i would prefer a car based in Europe.

Difficult to purchase a car from America, no? I mean i have to work long hours and can hardly fly your side to inspect a car.

I think i would prefer a restored car. I like old cars that look new. I know not everyone agrees, but there you go.

Don't mind US or Euro car. Must be 280sl, lhd and auto.

Colour is important! I like lighter colours on sl's. white / off white / light metallics.

I also love some greens / midnight blue / antracit....

No gold / red / black i love but not ideal for sunny day car.

Cheers,
Eric.

[Erics]

Oh, and a brabus car is too much money!

[Oisin]

Hi Eric - Lovely car - I have to admit I prefer darker colours on the 113 as they tend to show off the lines better.

The most obvious point to make is whether to buy it restored or whether to buy a cheaper car needing work and pay someone to restore.  The second option would make more sense (done to your spec, budget, colour and most importantly by your choice of restorer).  

- although I would add this could be the more expensive option, but with mint 113 prices these days maybe not.  Colin Ferns is in your neck of the woods - a good man for advice by all accounts.

Oisin

[Erics]

Hi Oisin,

Thanks for the response.

My fear is to embark in a money pit restoration process.

So many of my friends did this on porsches and the restorers behaved as if the client account was their own one.

By buying a car done, i know where i stand.

Saying that, i looked at the guys at cardock classics in ireland and they seem to do an amazing job.

I assume £150k cars which is rich for my blood.

If you know who are the right peeps for a resto then tell me!

Eric.

[Oisin]

I hear you Eric - these are famously expensive to get restored.  The old adage "get the best car you can't afford" probably still applies.  Trouble is that mint examples are going for stratospheric prices these days.  Still, enjoy the thrill of the chase whichever way you go.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hi Eric,

Nice car and color you have there and welcome.

I recommend you purchase the best quality and condition you can afford, then your friend properly pointed that out to you I'm sure. I did that and am not sorry I did.

You mentioned US cars, there is a nice mint one for sale (see the link below) you may not have seen it. If you like it you can always ask someone here to look it over for you. I think you can have it shipped to you for about $3.5K a bargain I think compared to prices I've seen advertised in Europe and the UK.

Check it out ---> http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=20693.0

Good luck in finding what you seek!

PS. There is a member on this forum he has one in Europe (Switzerland  I think) it is for sale unless he sold it. Unfortunately I do not recall his name if  it comes back to me I'll post it here. Perhaps some other member recalls his handle and/or the link. Also the fellows in Poland are doing some fine restoration work on Pagoda's perhaps they can chime in and point you in the right direction. Good Luck! 

[66andBlue]

.... Must be 280sl, lhd and auto......

Why not a 230SL/early 250SL? Much nicer interior trim! Less hassle with emission controls

[stickandrudderman]

There are no emission controls to worry about on European 280SLs, but I agree that one shouldn't focus on the model, rather the integrity.
I recently sold my 230SL that, although not perfect body-wise (although you average buyer wouldn't know to look at it), it was mechanically better than new but I really struggled to get a good price for the car simply because it was a 230.
Eric, the professional standards of some of the specialists with large advertising budgets and consequent high profiles do not meet with my approval so be very, very careful!
Colin

[Erics]

Hear you Colin!

230 / 250, not against it per se if the car is right and the price too.

May insist on auto box though as i want to relax..

We can chat offline at some point.........

[66andBlue]

You should have bought this one, it went to a smart buyer in Germany:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/390878723937

[Erics]

You should have bought this one, it went to a smart buyer in Germany:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/390878723937

Thanks.

Looks lovely! Any idea how much it went for?

I do not find it comfortable to buy from the US without me being there. Never say never though..

Having said that, let's focus on what's available and what can be bought now..

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Alfred,

That car was nicely presented great photos and description. Attention to details and presentation is everything.

My guess is that it sold for around $75k being what the prices are in Europe. What would be your guess on the selling price?

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Eric,

In the German Pagode Forum said someone the selling price was K60$

http://www.pagodentreff.de/diskussionsforum/showthread.php?p=90707#post90707

I asked him how he found that out? Perhaps he will tell us.

[GGR]

You should have bought this one, it went to a smart buyer in Germany:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/390878723937

There seem to be something wrong with the front right fender of this car. Looks like it was not pulled back properly after a crash.

[66andBlue]

Can you point out the evidence  for this "putative crash" 

[Rodolfo]

Looks very OK to me,

One of the horns touched some ground, have it on my car as well ;-)

Rudy

PS tires on one axle should be the same for safety reasons

[mdsalemi]

...some of the specialists with large advertising budgets and consequent high profiles do not meet with my approval so be very, very careful!

They sure know how to pretty up the exterior, though, don't they?

[Erics]

I also want to say a big thank you to all of you who have been in touch and pointed a very good cars.

Already have great leads.

[GGR]

Can you point out the evidence  for this "putative crash" 

I don't see anything wrong in the picture from underneath. But somehow, the shape of the front right fender does not look right to me. May be it's the angle of the picture.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Actually one has a fairly sharp corner and the other one  a fair size radii ... If one likes to be technical about it.

That said, one being RH And the other being LH there may be a slight difference in shape. When comparing the two very carefully one might think that the RH side may have made contact with some sort of a stationary object in the past or was repaired at some past date. Just my observation.

[GGR]

Now that you point it out, both fenders are different seen from underneath. Looks like the right fender (left on the picture) had some work done on it and the shape is not matching the right one anymore. 

[KevinC]

Two mint examples here...

http://motoringinvestments.com/MainPage.htm

[KevinC]

Four cars here appear to be nice... would be worth the airfare to California to check them out!

http://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1968-mercedes-benz-280-sl-3/

http://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1971-mercedes-benz-280-sl-7/

http://rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1068224

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21917/lot/209/

[garymand]

Funny,  you'd think our eyes would be better calibrated by now.     Looks like a new radiator, too, also pointing to frontend work. 

Mine is a little beat up on the bottom.  Its a little hard to understand how folks bump into stuff under there, but I expect a ding or two on a driver.  I just had mine rebuilt, I ASSUMED the idiot would pretty it up before resoldering it.  Asking a monkey for a do over is not always wise.